UCC leaders applaud Arizona immigration law injunction

Responding to a United State District Court judge's injunction against implementing certain parts of Arizona's new immigration law S.B. 1070, United Church of Christ leaders issued a statement in support of the ruling.

The Rev. Linda Jaramillo, executive minister for Justice and Witness Ministries, and the Rev. John Dorhauer, Southwest Conference Minister, authored a statement in which they expressed concern for the law's ability to profile "specific members of our communities based solely on suspicion of their legal status."

Calling upon Scriptural references and resolutions passed by the UCC's General Synod, Jaramillo and Dorhauer continued their call for comprehensive national immigration reform that would "establish a safe and humane immigration system, consistent with our values."

A total of 26 denomination officials have added their signature to the letter which is included below in its entirety.

July 29, 2010

We, as leaders of the United Church of Christ gathered in retreat on this historic day, applaud yesterday's federal court decision to stop the implementation of key provisions outlined in Arizona Senate Bill 1070, which were scheduled to take effect today, July 29, 2010. The court's analysis of constitutional law confirms our concerns that this law unjustly singles out specific members of our communities based solely on suspicion of their legal status.

We thank all those voices that, in the days since the passage of this law, have spoken so clearly about the injustice of such a law and who have acted in ways that, no matter how seemingly insignificant, have compelled the court to take action and caused others to think more seriously about the impact of such legislation.

In April, Arizona passed new legislation governing immigrants; legislation that the UCC's Southwest Conference calls "the harshest anti-immigrant legislation in the country ... that codifies racial profiling and creates an atmosphere of suspicion, hatred, and scapegoating of immigrants and U.S. Citizens. (For more information go to http://www.ucc.org/justice/immigration.)

When the alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God." -- Leviticus 19:33-34

We have witnessed and have learned of the immense pain, suffering, and fear already inflicted upon immigrant families in and beyond Arizona as a result of this law. As Christians, we are called to love our neighbors. The Bible is clear in calling us to welcome strangers in our land, and to love them as we love ourselves. In these times, listening to the voice of the still-speaking God, we will learn how to respond to these new sisters and brothers residing among us.

Therefore, in accordance with our mandate found in the Holy Scriptures and actions of the General Synod, we continue to call for national comprehensive immigration reform legislation to establish a safe and humane immigration system, consistent with our values, that:

creates a process for undocumented immigrants to earn legal status and eventual citizenship;

upholds family unity as a priority of immigration policies;

protects immigrant and native-born workers in their workplaces;

aligns border and internal enforcement policies with humanitarian values and due process protections

provides every detainee with access to their attorney, family, and faith leader, and ensures humane treatment in accord with state, federal, and international law; and

allows undocumented young persons who grew up in this country to work, pay in-state tuition for higher education, and join the military, and be eligible for legal status and eventual citizenship (the DREAM Act.)

We commit to be in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Arizona today and in the days ahead as they encounter serious community tension and hostility. We call upon our members to participate in worship services, nonviolent rallies, and other events all around the nation. Above all, we pray that God's grace and peace will be evident among us.